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It's a Mind Boggling Thing - The Systems That Make Up The Solar System

by Cheryl Carpenter

Region VIII ESC

January 2003

Objectives

The student is expected to identify and describe a system that results from the combination of two or more systems such as in the solar system. Science TEK (6.5a)
The student is expected to describe how the properties of a system are different from the properties of its parts. Science TEK (6.5b)
The student is expected to identify characteristics of objects in our solar system including the Sun, planets, meteorites, comets, asteroids, and moons. Science TEK (6.13a)
The student is expected to describe types of equipment and transportation needed for space travel. Science TEK (6.13b)
The student is expected to collect data by observing and measuring. Science TEK (6.2b)
The student is expected to analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations from direct and indirect evidence. Science TEK (6.2c)

Three weeks

C layer - 300 pts.

Sun (40 pts.)
Listen to lecture, take notes (5 pts.)
Read a chapter on the sun from a science textbook. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on the sun from a science textbook on tape. (5 pt.)
Write notes on the chapter. (5 pt.)
Answer the questions at the end of the chapter. (5 pt.)
Watch a video about the sun. (5 pt.)
Summarize the video. (5 pt.)
Make vocabulary flash cards and learn vocabulary words. (10 pt.)
Draw a diagram of the sun and label it. Include corona, chromosphere, photosphere, sunspots, prominence, core. Know what each is. (20 pt.)
Viewing sunspots activity. (10 pt.)
Create a travel brochure of an imaginary vacation trip to the sun. Include sites to visit, a map and travel tips. (20 pt.)
Make a 3-d model of the sun and label. (20 pt.)
Real world lab - stormy sunspots pg. 543 (10 pt.)
Write a book about the sun. (20 pt.)
Inner planets - Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars - 40 pts.
Listen to lecture, take notes. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on the inner planets from a science textbook. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on the inner planets from a science textbook on tape. (5 pt.)
Take notes on the chapter. (5 pt.)
Answer the questions at the end of the chapter. (5 pt.)
Watch a video about the inner planets. (5 pt.)
Summarize the video. (5 pt.)
Make vocabulary flash cards and learn vocabulary words. (10 pt.)
Make a chart comparing the characteristics of the inner planets. (10 pt.)
Draw and label the inner planets. (10 pt.)
Write a description of each of the inner planets. (10 pt.)
Make a poster about exploring the inner planets. Include a timeline. What spacecraft was used? What difficulties did they encounter? (20 pt.)
Write a story about taking a trip to the inner planets. Describe how you would get there and what you would see and experience. (20 pt.)
Make a 3-dimensional model of each of the inner planets. (20 pt.)
Make a power point presentation of the inner planets and share with a group of students. (20 pt.)
Identify and describe the systems in the inner planets. (10 pt.)

Outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Charon - 40 pts.
Listen to lecture, take notes. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on the outer planets from a science textbook. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on the outer planets from a science textbook on tape. (5 pt.)
Take notes on the chapter. (5 pt.)
Answer the questions at the end of the chapter. (5 pt.)
Watch a video about the outer planets. (5 pt.)
Summarize the video. (5 pt.)
Make vocabulary flash cards and learn vocabulary words. (10 pt.)
Make a poster showing the characteristics of the outer planets. (10 pt.)
Make a chart comparing the characteristics of the outer planets. (10 pt.)
Looking at the planet diameters, design a scale model that shows the relative size of each of the outer planets. (20 pt.)
Design a scale model of the outer planets that shows their relative distance from the sun. (20 pt.)
Make a chart comparing the moons of the outer planets. How many are there? What size are they? What are their characteristics? (10 pt.)
Make a chart or a poster showing when, how and by whom each of the outer planets was discovered. (10 pt.)
Make a time line showing important discoveries related to the outer planets. (10 pt.)
Make a chart showing how long it takes each of the outer planets to get around the sun. (15 pt.)
Identify and describe the systems in the outer planets. (10 pt.)

Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors - 40 pts.
Listen to lecture, take notes. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on comets, asteroids, and meteors from a science textbook. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on comets, asteroids, and meteors from a science textbook on tape. (5 pt.)
Take notes on the chapter. (5 pt.)
Answer the questions at the end of the chapter. (5 pt.)
Watch a video about comets, asteroids, and meteors. (5 pt.)
Summarize the video. (5 pt.)
Make vocabulary flash cards and learn vocabulary words. (10 pt.)
Describe a comet system. (5 pt.)
Make a model of a comet system. (10 pt.)
Compare and contrast comets, asteroids, and meteors. How are they alike, different? (15 pt.)
Make a chart comparing and contrasting comets, asteroids, and meteors. (15 pt.)
Make a timeline showing major discoveries of comets, asteroids, and meteors. (15 pt.)
Describe an asteroid. (5 pt.)
Make a model of an asteroid. (10 pt.)
Describe a meteor. (5 pt.)
Make a model of a meteor. (10 pt.)

Space Travel - 40 pts.
Listen to lecture, take notes. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on space travel from a science textbook. (5 pt.)
Read a chapter on space travel from a science textbook on tape. (5 pt.)
Take notes on the chapter. (5 pt.)
Answer the questions at the end of the chapter. (5 pt.)
Watch a video about space travel. (5 pt.)
Summarize the video. (5 pt.)
Make vocabulary flash cards and learn vocabulary words. (10 pt.)
Make a timeline of travel in space. (20 pt.)
Make a chart comparing and contrasting rockets, satellites, and space stations. (20 pt.)
Do the discover activity on pg.566. (10 pt.)
Build a rocket. (20 pt.)
What equipment is needed in space? Describe it, and explain its use and why it is needed. (15 pt.)
Draw and label a rocket, a satellite, and a space station. (20 pt.)

B layer - choose 1 for 50 pts.
Put together a trip through the solar system. What problems will you encounter and how will you overcome them? What will you see? Put together a script - record your trip.
Design a game that teaches the solar system.
Make a model of the entire solar system.

A layer - choose 1 for 50 pts.
Must have three sources. Summarize each and write your conclusion.
Is there life on other planets? Which ones?
Will humans ever live in outer space?
Should space exploration be continued?